(05-22-2022, 12:53 AM)RedmondSteve Wrote: Information requested about biking and running apps. I run and bike to stay in shape; not too hard core. Mostly run and bike on trails, not roads. Around Redmond, WA (East of Seattle).
I picked up a Garmin Edge 530 and Forerunner 45, Garmin chest strap heart rate monitor and also have an iPhone. I want to do a bit of tracking miles logged, calories burned, steps, heart rate, track and plan routes etc. Just a quick look and there is a large array of apps for MacBook and iPhone out there - Basecamp; Strava; Trailforks; and a lot more. And every time you get on an exercise machine at the gym it asks if you want to sign up for some new one. Do I need all of these? Are they somewhat duplicative of each other? What's a good basic set if I don't want to take the time to learn 5 new apps?
I think they are somewhat meaningless for the most point unless you trying to train to break a record or qualify for some major event (Olympics, World Championships, etc.); or if you have a heart/health condition that requires monitoring.
I had first gotten a "cyclometer" back in the late 80s, but found that even though it was accurate and functioned quite well, it became fairly useless in a short period of time due providing the nearly identical data for the routes I would take. Unless you need to know what your performance/vitals stats are every moment, then I would only use any device(s) sparingly.
Most of the time I'm taking a familiar route and already know its topographical data and my performance data; neither of which really change much except for uncontrollable cirmcumstances (i.e. road/trail/path contruction/alteration, stop lights/signs, emergency vehicles, weather, etc.).
Since the many people are carrying their smart phone with them during exercise, training, events, etc. than to me it makes sense just to use what your phone is capable of. You can stack app on app and run them concurrently for a comparison of like data sets (performance, health, topographical) and then make a decision on what you fits your needs the best.
I just did my normal "quick out and back" 9 mile route yesterday since rain was forecast for the rest of the day. I don't know how many times I've ridden it; but I know how far it is, how long it takes to ride it, how exhausted I'll be after doing it. I don't carry a phone or anything unless I'm in remote or unknown locations. I will some times put an old cyclometer on a bike (yet no phone) when using a new course or local touring even though much of that data can be monitored by a phone (speeds-actual/max/avg.; distance-trip/accumulative; times).
Free yourself from the data and monitoring once in while and just enjoy what you're doing for the sake of doing it. I know I had great rides yesterday, one a 5 mile leisure cruise with a friend, the other my 9 mile run. I built-up my friend's bike and intentionally installed a cyclometer knowing that my friend would rarely carry a phone and he wanted to keep track of essentially just the mileage and avg. speed since I told that he needed to ride 2 and 1/7th miles a day (15 miles/week) at approximately 10 mph.
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